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Our mission is to provide high quality statistics and data on Europe.

Dimensions of quality in official statistics

Quality is a multi-faceted, relative concept that affects all aspects of the operation of an institution.
Quality in official statistics covers 3 dimensions:

  1. the institutional environment in which the statistical authorities operate
  2. the statistical processes that produce them
  3. statistical outputs.

Quality@Eurostat

Quality considerations play a central role in Eurostat’s corporate management as well as in day-to-day statistical operations. This commitment is reflected in  Eurostat’s quality policy.

This quality policy is based on four levels of quality assurance:

  1. principles
  2. indicators
  3. methods and tools
  4. sector-specific quality assurance methods and tools

The policy was established by EU regulation 223/2009  on European statistics. It aims to ensure and continuously improve the quality of European statistics whilst verifying that they meet user needs.

Quality@ESS

Statistical authorities, comprising Eurostat, the National Statistical Institutes (NSIs), and Other National Authorities (ONAs), are strongly committed to quality. They are responsible for the development, production, and dissemination of European statistics. This commitment and an awareness for high quality are clearly expressed in the quality declaration of the European Statistical System (ESS). 

Quality in Europe and beyond

This quality commitment goes beyond Eurostat and the European Statistical System (ESS) by aiming to promote the best statistical practices on an international level.

This is achieved through 4 main axes of work:

  • the continuous implementation of quality standards in Eurostat, the ESS and in third countries
  • the continuous coordination, communication and promotion of ESS quality standards in Europe and beyond
  • the further development of quality standards for the ESS
  • by ensuring the relevance of European statistics to fulfil user needs.

Safeguarding quality: measures and tools

To safeguard the quality of European statistics, a range of measures and tools are in use. Click on the pages below to find out more:

More information